Traveling outside the comfort zone of our American bubble is an essential part of making us more worldly and well-rounded individuals.
Everyone should grasp the opportunity to visit a different country while we are here at CSULB and don’t have immense responsibilities tying us down.
It has been proven through countless research that traveling and immersing ourselves in the culture of another country gives us an invaluable perspective on life as well as ourselves as individuals.
Understandably the financial aspect of traveling holds a lot of people back, but with a little research and motivation, anyone can find an affordable experience to embark on.
In essence, the significance and intangible value of the trip far exceeds the financial contribution.
For example, our Study Abroad Department in Brotman Hall has countless opportunities for student to choose from.
Trips range in duration from weeklong excursions to semester or yearly programs that offer prices starting as low as $1,738.
Another great resource is Contiki.com, a website tailored to students that provides countless discount rates on flights, hotels, and tours.
Contiki has an incredible wealth of information and resources that can help any one of us seek the thrill of a travel experience. They have a layaway program that lets family and friends contribute to your trip, and it’s easy too. You choose the country, the month and the duration, and open a Contiki account which lets you see how much you need, how much has been donated and how much more is needed to make your dream trip possible. It is a great way to engage your friends and family to participate in contributing to your travel aspirations.
More resources and discounts can be found on websites such as livingsocial.com, groupon.com, and travelzoo.com. Bing.com also has a great feature where you can look up flight and hotel information and emails you when the rates go up or down.
Overall, I urge you to expand your horizons, travel the world, and immerse yourself in different cultures. As Americans we pride ourselves on our cultural awareness, yet there are so many of us that have never been out of the states.
I am not necessarily an advocate for specific travel companies or study abroad programs, but I am an advocate for furthering our cultural awareness.
It’s important for people our age to become well-rounded individuals. It would benefit our personal futures as well as the future of America.
Irina Chirkina is communication studies and journalism double major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
